READ THE BOLD PRINT: Hickenlooper, Democrat Budget A Spending Orgy

State Senator Pat Steadman and the organization he ghosts writes for…The Denver Post Editorial Page…have been doing their coordinated best to create the impression that Republicans are being stubborn for not backing Governor Hickenlooper’s budget.

The Denver Post editorial page called GOP opposition to the Democrats budget “sour grapes” over guns. Not quite. The Democratic budget is just the latest illustration of Democrats overreaching on guns, the death penalty, drivers licenses for the next Mohammad Atta, destroying the oil and gas industry, unionizing firefighters, etc., etc., etc.

Steadman, the former school funding lobbyist, knows this. He is a budget conman, knowing just enough about the budget apparently to speak with forked tongue. Because as with all that is John Hickenlooper in 2013, this budget is a retreat from the moderation that was the Hick “schtick” in the last two years.

Check out this year’s budget:

· Total State Spending…UP from $18 billion in 2011 to $20.7 billion this year and rising to $21.9 billion next year. Students of the budget process will remember that for the first time — maybe ever — House Republicans actually reduced the budget in 2011-2012. Hey Curtis Hubbard, plagiarize that! This budget has nothing in common with that budget.

· Government healthcare and related spending as part of the Health Care Policy and Finance Department…UP 12%. Yo Steadman, please explain to us how that is responsible.

One last reason Hickenlooper’s budget is irresponsible and impossible for anyone with fiscal sense not to oppose…not satisfied with a $1 billion increase with the money he has already got, Hickenlooper and the Democrats are itching for the chance to go ask voters for a $1 billion income tax increase in a few months.

Part of the Republican argument against the Hick-Johnston tax hike can will be just how irresponsible this budget is. Can’t you just hear it on the campaign trail this fall: They just got a billion dollar budget increase this year. Why do they need a billion more?

That is this year’s budget. It has nothing in common with what Republicans were able to win when they controlled the House in the budgets in 2011 and 2012.

Repeal in 2011 of the tax on farm and ranch supplies, such as pesticides and fertilizer. It’s worth an estimated $4.6 million.

Repeal in 2012 of a tax on downloaded software. Estimates on the price tag vary from a high of $24 million a year to about a third of that.

A reversal of an earlier plan to balance the budget with $8.8 million from the account filled by medical marijuana fees.

The resumption of payments to businesses that collect sales taxes. Before the recession, the state let businesses keep 3.3 percent of the sales taxes they collected. Tuesday’s deal lets them keep 2.2 percent. The change is worth $40 million a year.

Eli Stokols reported yesterday that some Republicans are considering caving on the budget. We are sure Hick is twisting arms. There is nothing he would like more than to find a few Republicans to hide behind for a budget that is straight out of the Harry Reid playbook. We don’t think Republicans will cave. The fine print… and the bold print … shows another Democratic over-reach. This isn’t sour grapes. This is one rotten budget.

I feel sorry for all the conservatives and libertarians of CO. I live in AR now but I am a native CA beach girl. The progressives and illegals took over and destroyed my beloved state. Now it is happening to you. Right now you can change it and bring it back IF YOU DO IT NOW! It means galvanizing all the passive evangelicals, the busy young parents…you need to get the point across right now before 2014 or you may not get your state back……just saying.

This is outrageous. The Dems are destroying this state at warp speed. SO MUCH can change in such a short period of time. If Colorado voters don't wake up soon, Colorado will be in their rear view mirror and California will have a twin.

Agreed/ Such a double standard. Voters voted in Amendment 64 so that was the Dems., justification for signing the bill into law. BUT the voters also voted unanimously not to force local governments to enforce or fund fire-fighter and police opportunity for unionization, but that vote must not matter to the Democrats, even though Hickenlooper himself has spoken to his own party being against the union. Democrats are out of control and because they are in the majority, they are taking full advantage of it. This term will take the State of Colorado YEARS to "undo" what they have done.

Just an embarassment of riches… huh, Chicken POOPER? If a single Republican caves on this BS…flush 'em! The Colorado Energy Office alone needs to have a Special Prosecutor Appointed to find the $252 million MISSING DOLLARS!

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Follow Colorado Peak Politics

Featured Articles

We know December can be a crazy month, but it looks like former Senate President Morgan Carroll may just be in hiding. Our sources tell us that she’s cancelled three or four of her recent townhalls. We see at least two on her website (see pic). We would think that after the shellacking her party ... ∞

In an interview with Colorado Public Radio, Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper bemoaned the idea that the State of Colorado would have to refund tax dollars to taxpayers as part of the Colorado constitution. From the article: “Hickenlooper says [giving funds back to taxpayers] will mean the state may have to cut some essential services. As ... ∞

What should be the first clue that Sen. Michael Bennet isn’t really one of us? Is it his elitist background? His East Coast childhood? His establishment brother? Or, the fact that Bennet doesn’t even really live in Colorado anymore? Well if you’re The Aurora Sentinel’s local gossiper, you can’t help but call Bennet out on the ... ∞

To say that Oil and Gas Task Force Co-Chair Gwen Lachelt is driving the agenda of the oil and gas task force meetings is an understatement. From our exclusive report showing Lachelt’s frustration with the outpouring of support for the oil and gas industry at the first meeting to rumors of her hand-picking public commentary, it ... ∞

UPDATE: Rep. Dan Nordberg, the author of last year’s audit bill, had this to say in a statement: “With only a limited performance audit, the state auditor found Connect for Health Colorado committed numerous federal law violations, and nearly 40 percent of sampled contracts had problems totaling more than $32 million dollars. “Sadly, I am not ... ∞